Claimed by the Blackwood King

Rose’s POV

The sound of shattering glass. The smell of smoke and ash. A terrible, white-hot pain in my side that stole my breath. The world going numb, the shouts and screams fading into a muffled roar as the darkness swallowed me whole.

When I finally opened my eyes, I found my self in a hospital bed. With a guy very handsome something like a Greek god sitting next to me.

His eyes were the color of a winter storm, and they held no warmth, no pity. Just a chilling, dangerous calm.

“My name is Lucian,” he said, his voice a low vibration that wasn’t loud but commanded the entire room. “Charles,” he called to the man by the door, his gaze still pinned on me, “get her discharged."

He didn't ask if I was okay, he just issued a command.

This was a man used to being obeyed. The way Charles jumped to action, the cold efficiency of it all... this was more than just a CEO.

This was a man of a different, darker world. There was really no emotion in his face, he just stayed there and when he saw I was awake, he stood up and told Charles which looked like one that would be his loyal partner to request for my discharge.

Charles came over to where I was and asked if I was okay. He was very handsome although. He was 6 feet like Lucian, but Lucian was a bit taller and more handsome.

“Pretty caring.” I thought to myself, after the doctor came to discharge me, I dressed up, got out and boarded a taxi.

Flashback

My mom had just died from a Chronic kidney disease, the disease had been there for long. Even an operation could not help it.

She ran into cardiac arrest and I didn’t know much about my father, I knew he had a name in an Empire, mum had mumbled them to me.

I went to the club that night and got myself drunk, I could remember I almost staggered fell but a guy walked over to me and held me before I fell.

I was guided to a room and some female club attendant helped me clean up as instructed by a boss I didn’t know.

Someone then walked into the room and gave me a bowl of soup. His eyes were the color of a winter storm, and they held no warmth, no pity. Just the one that made you question if this person is really human.

He didn’t introduce himself he said, but his aura commanded the whole room, I began to cry and pour out issues he didn’t even asked me of.

He listened gently, his eyes carrying a flicker of emotion rather better than the one I saw initially.

He patted me at my back and told me to take the soup little by little, I was too drunk to listen, so, I pulled him by his collar and kissed him aggressively, We didn't stop until we were choked. Something about his eyes carried a warm flicker that soothed me and made me sleep.

---

Back to Present

The taxi took me to my destination, I paid him, then stepped in to the mansion. The address was correct,

Mum had given me my dad’s address before she gave up the ghost. I knocked and I was let in by a helper.

The people I met inside were dressed elegantly, I instantly knew they were one of the strong families in Blackwood Empire.

I bowed slightly to the woman that opened the door for me. She was in her mid forties, but looked thirty and beautiful.

I got into the mansion and I was led to the sitting room. I met two ladies, one in her fifties and the other in her teen age.

The guy just stared at me blankly and walked into his room. Then Dad came out of his room and gestured for me to come hug him.

I was happy that at least, he was welcoming than the rest, I am 16 years old, I quitted school at grade 10 to help mum’s health, but it was declining.

Dad then introduced the family, “Rose, you’re welcome to Carter family of blackwood Empire, this is your Stepmom, Georgia” the woman that I said looked like she was fifty. Her face carried deceit and she gave me a smile that didn’t look like it came from her mind.

“Meet Sophie, your step sis, engaged to Lucian, the CEO of the largest group in blackwood Empire.” Dad continued, Sophie was a little different from her mom, her eyes told jealousy but I couldn’t really infer it yet.

The name, Lucian rang a bell, “wasn’t that the guy who helped me when I got hit by a bullet?” I thought to myself while I hid my curiosity. He proceeded to introduce the eldest son.

“The guy that just walked out now is Derek, you senior brother, he has temperamental issues as he’s very short tempered.”

I just nodded to acknowledge what he said. A maid was called, she looked my age and she answered Ella to direct me to my room and get my clothes.

I was led to the room and I tried to talked to her, we bonded almost immediately and she told me a lot of things about the house, how Ella is wicked and cunny, her mother the same behavior while Derek was reserved, didn’t talk and Dad was hearty.

She bade me goodnight and said I needed to sleep because of the bullet attack and that my body needed rest.

THUD

I jumped into the bed and crashed out immediately.

I woke up the next morning feeling very tired, then I rushed to the bathroom And took a shower.

After I took my bath, I Got into the room cleaned my body with the towel proceeded to do my skin care and hurried to the sitting room.. I met Sophie sitting comfortably on the couch then her mom came in and I asked for my breakfast, I was told to prepare it myself, then I asked for the direction to daddy’s room.

I got to his room and greeted him good morning. We had a brief chat and I headed back to my room.

When I was in the sitting room, I was not dressed fully I was in my night robe. Then I got into my room to change into a simple but a bit elegant dress.

Coming from dad’s room, I was informed we would be going to Lucian’s family mansion for dinner because we were invited.

So, I intentionally made the pick of the dress to be a bit elegant and yet, simple. Someone knocked on my door, then I replied “come in.” It was Ella, the maid.

She came in with my